Ventilating fans



May 2 9 L. 1.. ALLDRITT ET AL 2,746,674

VENTILATING FANS Filed' Dec. 23, 1955 3 Sheets-Shae L l IN VE N TUALAWRM/(f L. 4410/9/72" wR/rr DELLA MAY 4 ATTORNEY y 2, 1956 ALLDRITT ETAL 2,746,674

VENTILATING FANS Filed Dec. 23, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTURLAWfFE/VCL A. All 0/ 9/77 DzEZZ/I MA) ALLO/P 77 WW ATTORNEY VENTILATINGFANS Lawrence L. Alldritt and Della May Alldritt, Miami, Fla.

Application December 23, 1953, Serial No. 399,929

7 Claims. Cl. 230-259 Our invention relates to ventilating and coolingfans, and particularly to belt driven fans intended and adapted forattic and wall mounting, in residences and oflice buildings andfactories and other buildings, both of frame and masonry construction.

An object of our invention is to provide a fan structure for ceiling orattic or wall installation, which has a supporting and mountingstructure of compact form and arrangement, thus requiring a minimum ofspace and depth of wall or frame for installation, so that the fanassembly can be almost completely encompassed within the thickness of anaverage wall of a frame or masonry house, and that in atticinstallations a minimum space will be required and the fan can bemounted to hang down inside of the joists instead of resting upon andprojecting above the joists.

A further object is to so construct the fan and mounting that the partsare substantially balanced to distribute any strain from the fan andmotor mounting and the drive belt therebetween.

Still another purpose is to provide for adjustments such as may benecessary'in particular installations, so that the fan can be balancedand will operate 'with minimum vibration, and will permit installationon the inside of a wall or ceiling shutter, "either manually orautomatically operated, with the blade away from the shutter so thatnoise is minimized by the fan blades being in too close to the shutter.Y

Another purpose is to'provide a fan and mounting structure which issimple to install and with which all parts can be readily reached forservicing and the like.

With the above and other objects in View, some of which will be apparentto those skilled in the art, and others of which are inherent in theconstruction and installation and use, our invention includes certainnovel features of construction and assembly which will be hereinafterset forth in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a broken-away view disclosing our invention mounted in aceiling and attic installation.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the fan and mounting from theexhaust side. I

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at the intake side of the mountingstructure.

Fig. 4 is a view in edge elevation showing the fan and mountingstructure.

Fig. 5 is a view from the intake side showing the mounting and drivestructure with the fan removed. 1

Fig. 6 is a sectional view to better show the fan mounting bearing.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the fan supporting structure.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view substantially-on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation of the showing in Fig.7.

2,746,674 Patented May 22, less Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional Viewsubstantially on line 11-11 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12'is a view in perspective illustrating a motor mounting bracketstructure.

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of the motor mounting bracketillustrating a motor held in place thereby.

A supporting frame structure has a front plate 1 which is substantiallyrectangular in outline, and is provided with a fan opening at itscenter, a venturi-ring 2 being turned outwardly around the fan opening.A marginal flange 3 is provided entirely around the marginal edge of thefront plate, the venturi-ring projecting on the discharge side of themounting structure and the flange 3 being disposed in the intake side.Supporting rods 4 and 5 are secured diagonally across the centralopening of the plate 1, preferably on the intake side and in spacedapart relation, as perhaps best shown in Fig. 3. These rods are weldedor otherwise secured, as at 6, at their ends to the flange structure 3and are also preferably welded or rigidly secured, as at 7, to the faceof the front plate so that a substantially rigid construction andmounting is accomplished, the purpose being to avoid possibility ofvibration and to eliminate noise.

A fan supporting mounting 8 is provided with sleeve portions 9 and 10which are slidably fitted upon the supporting rods 4 and 5, before theserods are secured in place, and set screws 11 and 12 are provided so thatthis fan supporting mounting can be rigidly secured upon the supportingrods when adjusted to a desired centering position with respect to theopening through the venturiring 2. The fan supporting mounting has acrossbar portion 13 extending substantially straight across between thebearing sleeves 9 and 10, and an offset crossbar portion 14 is spacedsomewhat from the crossbar portion 13 on the side of the front platewithin the venturi-ring 2. These two crossbar portions have bearingedged faces thereof in substantially the same plane, and crossbarportion-13 has bolt receiving slots 15 therethrough while crossbarportion 14 is provided with bolt receiving slots 16. Fan shaft bearings1'7 and 18 are provided to be fitted upon the flanged faces of thecrossbar portions 13 and 14, and are adjustably held in place thereon byclamp bolts 19 and 20 passed through the slots 15 and 16.

Fan shaft 21 is fitted through bearing openings of the fan shaftbearings, and a fan 22 is mounted on one end of this shaft 21 Within theconfines of the opening of the venturi-ring 2. This fan can have two orthree or more blades and the blades are angled or pitched so that theyare encompassed substantially within the depth of the venturi-ring.

By making the fan supporting mounting 8 adjustable on the supportingrods 4 and 5, and then adjustably mounting the fan shaft bearings 17 and18 on the cross-bar portions 13 and 14, it is possible to accuratelyadjust the fan shaft bearings so that the fan shaft rotates substantially axially within the opening of the venturi-ring, and thus the fancan be centered and adjusted to very accurate positioning and to asubstantially centered and balanced mounting within the venturi-ring andthe supporting structure. Obviously, this balanced mounting will preventor. minimize vibration of the parts and will prevent noise when the fanis rotated. Further, this accurate balance will relieve strain upon theparts and will cause a substantially dynamic balancing of the fanstructure so that this will operate most etficiently and without unduewear or strain upon the parts.

On the opposite end of the fan shaft 21, a drive belt pulley 23is fixed.Of course, the fan shaft bearings 17 and 18 can be provided withlubricating cups or can be equipped with ball or roller bearings, andcan be made in substantially any desired and approved manner. When thefan shaft 21 is being rotated the fan 22 will cause e'ndwise movement orpressure and any suitable provision can be made for a thrust bearing orfor otherwise compensating for this end thrust upon the shaft 21 andassociated parts.

With the parts mounted and associated in the manner set forth, thestructure is very compact as the fan 22 is substantially positionedwithin the venturi-ring structure, and although the leading edges of theblades may project slightly, this does not add materially to the overallthickness of the assembly. The fan supporting mounting 8 is compact andyet gives rigid support for the fan, and the drive belt pulley 23 islocated closely adjacent to the supporting rods 4 and 5, and the partsare Well within the depth of the marginal flange 3. As has been stated,the fan supporting mounting 8 can be bodily moved along the supportingrods 4 and 5, and the fan shaft bearings 17 and 18 can be adjustedlaterally, and thus the fan can be accurately positioned and centered,and the axial alignment of the bearings can be set to coincide with adesired axial alignment of the fan shaft 21.

A motor 24 is provided to rotate the fan, and this motor is mounted atone corner of the substantially rectangular front plate andsubstantially centered between the supporting rods 4 and 5, in a mannerto be hereinafter more fully described.

The motor shaft 25 is provided with a belt pulley 26, and a belt 27 isfitted upon the belt pulleys 26 and 23. This belt 27 can be of theV-belt type and the pulleys 26 and 23 can be correspondingly shaped,although obviously the belt and pulley drive can be of multiple belt orany other desired form.

In Figs. 12 and 13 we have illustrated a motor mounting which can beconveniently used to support the electric motor 24 in position. As hereshown, a base plate 28 has end portions 29 and 30 spaced apart toaccommodate the length of the motor, and these end portions 29 and 30are recessed at their upstanding edges to substantially fit the bearingportions 31 at the ends of the motor casing. On opposite sides the endportions 29 and 30 are provided with the hook formations 32 and 33, andclamping straps 34 provided with slotted openings 35 are fitted upon thehook portions 32 and 33. These clamping straps have upstanding cars 36at their ends provided with aligned openings through which a clampingscrew or bolt 37 is fitted, and as is illustrated in Fig. 13, when themotor is placed in the cradle thus formed and the clamping screws orbolts 37 are tightened, the motor will be substantially rigidlyassembled and held in place.

Adjusting slide bars 38 and 39 are secured on the motor mounting, acrossthe end portion 29, and are spaced apart sufficiently to receiveclamping bolts.

The rectangular front plate has clamp bolt openings 40 stamped ordrilled or otherwise formed through one corner, substantially asillustrated in Fig. 3, between the two supporting rods 4 and 5, andsubstantially aligned with the diagonal extent thereof. Also, in thisarea an elongated fan shaft receiving slot 41 is provided through thefront plate. Motor mounting bolts 42 are passed through the openings 40and have the head portions thereof fitted between adjusting slide bars38 and 39, so that the motor and mounting will be adjustably held inplace with the motor shaft 25 received through the elongated motor shaftreceiving slot 41. This mounting will of course be accomplished beforethe belt pulley 26 is fitted and secured upon the motor shaft 25, andwhen the belt 27 is in place, the motor and mounting can be adjusted sothat proper tension is secured on the motor belt, following which clampnuts can be tightened upon the clamp bolts 42 to secure and hold theadjustment of the motor substantially rigid.

It will be appreciated that the rectangular front plate is made veryrigid by turning out the venturi-ring 2 on one side and turning back themarginal flange 3 on the opposite side. Further, this front plateassembly is reinforced by the diagonally extending supporting rods 4 and5 welded or otherwise rigidly secured at their ends to the inside of themarginal flange 3 and then welded or otherwise rigidly secured to theface of the front plate.

These two supporting rods are spaced apart sufficiently that they give abraced or almost trussed support and rigidity to the front plateassembly. When the motor is mounted in place upon this substantiallyrigid structure, and the fan supporting structure 8 is secured the partswill be substantially immovably associated, after the motor has beenadjusted to its desired position, and a very rigid supporting structurewill be accomplished which will resist vibration and will consequentlybe quiet and substantially vibrationless in operation.

To compensate for relatively high speeds of commercially availableelectric motors, the belt pulley 26 will preferably be relativelysmaller than the belt pulley 23, and thus the speed of rotation of thefan will be reduced. Of course, any desired variations in proportionatespeed of rotation can be accomplished.

With the structure as thus described, and as is perhaps best shown inFig. 4, the motor 24 is on the same side of the front plate 1 as theventuri-ring 2 and any projecting portion of the fan 22, and the beltdrive portions are substantially enclosed within the marginal flange 3,so that a very thin or flat assembly is accomplished. Thus, our fanassembly can be very conveniently mounted in a wall opening of a masonryor frame building without projection of the parts to any great extent oneither side. Where a shutter, either manually or automatically adjusted,is desired to be used with our fan, this can be very readily andcompactly fitted in place against the edge of the marginal flange 3, andsince the driving belt is within the confines of this flange there willbe no interference with the shutter or operation of the parts. Theflange causes suflicient separation so that the shutter parts will notbe too close to the fan, and vibration will thus be avoided.

In Figure 1 we have shown a mounting of our fan in a ceiling opening andhere the opening is framed as at 43. The front plate 1 serves to supportour fan upon this framing, and strips 44 may be secured in place toretain the fan. It may be found advisable to insert rubber or otherinsulating pads 45 at each corner or at other points around and betweenthe plate 3 and the framing 43. In this illustration, a ceiling shutteris indicated at 46.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a ventilatingfan which can be mounted in a wall of a building or the ceiling of aroom, or a window of a building or in almost any other manner andposition that may be desired; and, it is of compact and simpleconstruction for convenient and ready installation, and which at thesame time is extremely rigid in its supporting structure and is fullyadjustable with respect to the fan and motor mountings, so that the fanwill be adjacent and substantially vibrationless and thus quiet inoperation and use. Further, the parts are all associated and assembledin such manner that the motor and the fan are freely available foradjustments and repairs.

While we have herein shown and described only certain specificembodiments of our invention and have set forth only possiblemodifications, it will be apparent that many changes and variations canbe made in the form and construction and assembly of the parts, as Wellas in the manner of installing, without departing from the spirit andscope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A ventilating fan for installation in buildings, comprising asubstantially rectangular plate having a circular central opening with aventuri ring extending outwardly on one side and having a marginalflange on the opposite side of said plate, a pair of straight, parallel,elongated supports mounted flat on said plate on the side opposite saidventuri ring, said supports extending diagonally across said centralopening and being attached to said rectangular plate adjacent diagonallyopposite corners .5 thereof, said supports being parallel to and lyingon opposite sides of a line joining said diagonally opposite corners, arotatable fan supported on said elongated supports substantiallycoaxially of said opening, an electric motor mounted on said plateadjacent a corner thereof between said elongated supports and on thesame side of said plate as said venturi ring, said motor having a motorshaft extending through a hole in said plate, and means on the same sideof said plate as said elongated supports drivingly connecting said fanwith said motor shaft.

2. The invention of claim 1, and means adjustably mounting said motor onsaid plate for location of said motor in any of a plurality of positionsradially of said circular central opening, said hole having the shape ofan elongated slot disposed radially of said circular central opening.

3. A ventilating fan for installation in buildings, comprising asubstantially rectangular plate having a circular central opening with aventuri ring extending outwardly on one side and having a marginalflange on the opposite side of said plate, a pair of straight, parallel,elongated supports mounted flat on said plate on the side opposite saidventuri ring and extending across said central opening, a fan shaftsupported for rotation between said elongated supports coaxially of saidcircular central opening, a fan mounted on one end of said fan shaft anda first pulley mounted on the other end of said fan shaft, an electricmotor mounted on said plate on the same side of said plate as saidventuri ring and between said elongated supports, said motor having amotor shaft extending through a hole in said plate, a second pulleymounted on the end of said motor shaft on the side of said plateopposite said venturi ring, said motor and second pulley being disposedon opposite sides of said plate, and a drive belt disposed on the sideof said plate opposite said venturi ring and motor and drivinglyinterconnecting said first and second pulleys.

4. The invention of claim 3, and means adjustably mounting said motor onsaid plate for location of said motor in any of a plurality of positionsradially of said circular central opening, said hole having the shape ofan elongated slot disposed radially of said circular central opening.

5. A ventilating and cooling fan for installation in buildingscomprising, a substantially rectangular front plate having a centralopening with a venturi-ring turned up and around on one side and saidfront plate being provided on its opposite side with a marginal flange,a pair of supporting rods spaced apart and rigidly secured at their endswith the marginal flange and also rigidly secured to the front plate, afan supporting mounting slidably mounted on said supporting rods, meansto secure said fan mounting in fixed adjusted position upon thesupporting rods, fan shaft bearings adjustably carried on the fansupporting mounting to be adjustable substantially at right angles tothe extent of the supporting rods, a fan shaft revolvably mounted insaid bearings, a fan mounted on one end of said fan shaft within theventuri-ring opening, a belt pulley on the opposite end of the fanshaft, an electric motor carried by said front plate at one cornerthereof substantially between the supporting rods with the axis of themotor parallel with the axis of the fan shaft, a belt pulley on themotor shaft, and a belt fitted over said belt pulleys.

6. A ventilating and cooling fan having a mounting comprising, arectangular front plate with an opening substantially centrallytherethrough surrounded on one side by a venturi-ring and saidrectangular plate being provided with an upstanding marginal flange onits opposite side, two supporting rods spaced apart extending across thecentral opening within the confines of the marginal flange secured attheir ends to said flange and also secured to the front plate adjacentto the central opening, a fan supporting mounting extending acrossbetween said supporting rods having adjustable movement endwise of saidrods, means to secure said fan supporting mounting in desired fixedadjustments, said fan supporting mounting being provided with two spacedapart crossbar portions each having elongated bolt receiving slots, fanshaft bearings fitted on said crossbar portions, clamp bolts securingsaid fan shaft bearings adjustably upon the crossbar portions, a fanshaft rotatably mounted in said fan shaft bearings, a fan secured on oneend of said fan shaft within the venturi-ring, a belt pulley secured onthe opposite end of the fan shaft, an electric drive motor, saidrectangular front plate having an elongated slot at one cornerintermediate the securement of the supporting rods through which themotor shaft is received and is adjustable, clamp bolts mounting saidmotor on said rectangular front plate on the same side as theventuri-ring, a belt pulley on the motor shaft substantially alignedwith the belt pulley on the fan shaft, and a belt fitted upon saidpulleys.

7. A ventilating and cooling fan having a mounting comprising, arectangular front plate with an opening substantially centrallytherethrough surrounded on one side by a venturi-ring and saidrectangular plate being provided with an outstanding marginal flange onits opposite side, two spaced apart supporting rods extending diagonallyacross the rectangular front plate rearwardly of said venturi-ring andsecured at their ends to said marginal flange and also secured to thefront plate adjacent to the central opening, a fan supporting mountingextending across between said supporting rods having sleeves slidable onsaid supporting rods, means to secure said sleeves in adjustedpositions, said fan supporting mounting being provided with two spacedapart crossbar portions and said crossbars being spaced apart axiallywith respect to the venturi-ring, fan shaft bearings fitted on saidcrossbar portions, clamp bolts securing said fan shaft bearings upon thecrossbar portions to be adjustable longitudinally thereof, a fan shaftrotatably mounted in said fan shaft bearings, a fan secured on one endof said fan shaft within the venturi-ring, a belt pulley secured on theopposite end of the fan shaft, an electric drive motor, said rectangularfront plate having an elongated slot at one corner intermediate of thesupporting rods through which the motor shaft is received and isadjustable, clamp bolts mounting said motor adjustably on saidrectangular front plate on the same side as the venturi-ring, a beltpulley on the motor shaft substantially aligned with the belt pulley onthe fan shaft, and a belt fitted upon said pulleys.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,148,524 Bartch et al Feb. 28, 1939 2,191,418 Allen Feb. 20, 19402,218,348 Boyer Oct. 15, 1940 2,385,152 Morrison Sept. 18, 19452,529,040 Morrison Nov. 7, 1950 2,573,145 Sprouse et al Oct. 30, 19512,612,831 Lehman Oct. 7, 1952 2,620,722 Owens Dec. 9, 1952 2,643,053Sherman et a1 June 23, 1953 2,700,500 Wren Jan. 25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS568,405 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1945

